Rebar-Tying Tool

A rebar-tying tool is a battery-powered equipment that fastens rebar together with tie wires.

Description:

The rebar tying tool is an engineering control that may help reduce stooped postures, and stressful hand and wrist activity.  A rebar-tying tool is battery-powered and mechanically fastens rebar together with tie wires.

There are many different kinds of rebar-tying tools.  Many models come with adjustable extension handles, while others have these handles available separately.

Rebar Tier RB441T

The Max RB441T (Figure 1) has a dual wire feeding mechanism that helps increase productivity.

Specifications:

  • Weight: 5.6 lbs
  • Rebar size: up to #7 x #7
  • Ties per battery charge: 4,000
  • Magazine capacity: 145-265 ties per coil
  • Tie wire: TW1061T / 19Ga, TW1061T-PC / 19Ga, TW1061T-EG / 19Ga, TW1061T-S / 19Ga
  • Tying time: <1 second per tie

Figure 1. Max RB441T (Photo courtesy of MAX USA Corp.)

Rebar Tier RB611T

The Max RB611T (Figure 2) is another option with the largest jaw size of any battery powered rebar tying tool on the market (per manufacturer's website description on 12/2019).

Specifications:

  • Weight: 5.7 lbs
  • Rebar size: up to #9 x #10
  • Ties per battery charge: 4,000
  • Magazine capacity: 115-205 ties per coil
  • Tie wire: TW1061T / 19Ga, TW1061T-PC / 19Ga, TW1061T-EG / 19Ga, TW1061T-S / 19Ga
  • Tying time: <1 second per tie

Figure 2. Max RB611T (Photo courtesy of MAX USA Corp.)

BNT-64

The BNT-64 rebar tying tool has an adjustable handle but is not available with an extension arm (Figure 3).

Specifications:

  • Weight: 8.4 lbs with battery and wire spool
  • Rebar size: up to #6 x #6
  • Battery: 12V Ni-MH
  • Ties per battery charge: 750
  • Capacity: 120-200 ties per coil
  • Tie wire: 18 gauge galvanized wire
  • Tying time: 1.6 seconds per tie

Figure 3. The BNT-64 rebar tying tool shown with both handle positions.

Risks Addressed:

Stooped postures can cause low back disorders, such as muscle strain or a disc herniation (“slipped disc”), which is bulging of disc material possibly pressing on the spinal cord or nerves that go into the leg.  Rebar tying tools with extensions can help reduce stooped postures by allowing the user to remain in an upright position while tying rebar.  

Stressful hand & wrist activity can cause musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as muscle strains; tendonitis, which is inflammation of elbow and wrist tendons; or carpal tunnel syndrome, which is compression of a wrist nerve, resulting in finger numbness and loss of hand strength.  Rebar tying tools can help reduce stressful hand & wrist activity by automatically fastening bars together with tie wire.  

How Risks are Reduced:

Rebar tying tools reduce stooped postures by allowing the user to remain in an upright position while stressful hand and wrist activity is minimized by the tool automatically fastening the tie wires. 

In 2010, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published an article evaluating ironworkers’ exposure to risk factors for developing MSDs of the low back and hand.  NIOSH found that using battery operated rebar tiers significantly reduced an ironworker’s exposure to these risk factors.

Safety and health experts believe rebar tying tools will reduce stooped postures by allowing the user to remain in an upright position while stressful hand and wrist activity is minimized by the tool automatically fastening the tie wires. 

 

Effects on Productivity:

Rebar tying tools may increase productivity by reducing fatigue and reducing tying time. 

Contributors:

Dan Anton, PT, PhD, ATC; and Jesse Brouwer, SPT – Eastern Washington University

Hazards Addressed:

Availability

NIOSH Workplace Solutions Sheet
The National Institute of Safety and Health (NIOSH) has published a series of “Workplace Solutions”, which are easy-to-understand recommendations from NIOSH research results. Related to this Construction Solution, please find more information on: Reducing Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Rodbusters

Max USA Corp. Rebar Tier RB398
To obtain information, visit Rebar Tier RB441T and Rebar Tier RB611T or contact 1-800-223-4293 maxcorp@maxusacorp.com

BN Products
To obtain information, visit Various rebar tying tools or contact 1-800-677-3933 sales@ccinetwork.com

Return on Investment

To calculate the return on investment (ROI) for your specific application, please visit our Return on Investment Calculator. While a specific ROI example has not been developed for this particular solution, the ROI Calculator provides a useful tool and guidance on how to generate your own on investment analysis.